President issues law to regulate hunting in the wild

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, issued local law number 22 for 2005 pertaining to regulation of the hunting of wild animals in the emirate.

The 13-article law, which prohibits the act of hunting mammals, birds and reptiles within the emirate of the Abu Dhabi without permission from the Abu Dhabi Environmental Authority (Adea), which will oversee implementation of the law.

Adea will specify the hunting areas, type of animals, hunting seasons and prohibited hunting tools and equipment.

Article 4 of the law prohibits access to the wild animals' breeding grounds and birds' nests or eggs. It also forbids catching of ferocious animals unless a licence is obtained from the competent authority.

The law bans use of adhesive materials for catching birds, wild animals and reptiles. It also bans setting of traps and camouflage items for the purpose of catching mammals, birds and reptiles.

Article 5 classifies protected species of birds, mammals and reptiles according to the level of protection.

It states that hunting licence applicants must submit their applications to the competent authority which is empowered to issue, renew and revoke hunting licences.

Article 7 mandates the minister of labour and social affairs, in coordination with the head or deputy head of the competent authority, to nominate persons vested with the power of tracing any violations of this law and other laws in the country.

The law provides for penalty of imprisonment of not less than six months or a fine of not less than Dh 20,000 for anyone who kills a protected bird, mammal or a reptile in List 1 of protected animals.

Killing birds, mammals or reptiles listed in List 2 is punishable by imprisonment of not less than three months or a fine of Dh 10,000 while killing of any animal in List 3 is punishable by imprisonment for not less than one month or a fine of Dh 5,000.